Embassy of the United States

Resources

Pharmacy

First Professional Degrees (B.S., B.Pharm, Pharm. D.)
The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Bachelor of Pharmacy, or Doctor of
Pharmacy degrees all qualify the recipient for entry-level positions.
However, the Doctor of Pharmacy degree is often preferred for employment
in hospitals. The two bachelor's degree programs generally require five years to compete, with the first two years being general academic requirements including college-level math, biological sciences, and chemistry. These requirements can sometimes be completed at community colleges, before entering the formal pharmacy program. The Doctor of Pharmacy program also has two years of pre-professional study, but it is followed by four years of professional study, with the fourth year being an opportunity for practice in a variety of settings. There are 81 colleges of pharmacy recognized by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (311 West Superior, Suite 512, Chicago IL 60610). Thirty-four of them require the Pharmacy College Admission Test(PCAT) for entrance. The exam is given three times a year, in November, February, and April. For more information about the PCAT, write to:

Pharmacy College Admission Test
The Psychological Corporation
P.O. Box 91581
Chicago, IL 60693
Licensure

In all states, licensure requires graduation from an accredited college of
pharmacy, passing of a State board examination, and an internship of some
sort. There is also a special exam for graduates of foreign pharmacy
schools who wish to apply for state licensure in the United States.
Information about the exam (Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency
Examination Information) is available free from:

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
700 Busse Highway
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Or at: http://www.nabp.net

Information about the requirements for licensure in a particular state
should be directed to the Board of Pharmacy of the state or to:

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
700 Busse Highway
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Or at: http://www.nabp.net

Residency Programs and Fellowships:

Further training is possible in one or two-year residency programs in a
particular area of pharmacy practice, or in pharmacy fellowships,
individualized programs to train the participant to become an independent
researcher.

Graduate Study

At least 70 colleges of pharmacy offer advanced study in one of the
specialized areas of pharmacy, such as pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical
chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and pharmacy administration. GRE
and TOEFL are frequently required. Such programs lead to Master of
Science or Ph.D. degrees, but not to eligibility for licensing as a
pharmacist.